Snap-on can sealer



1366- 7, 1965 1.. ca. CALLEGARI SNAP-ON CAN SEALER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1963 l. "0 m wm T@ R m! 0 V W m A 6 w w Y B 7, 1965 L. G. CALLEGARI SNAP-ON CAN SEALER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 50, 1965 n 5 a g M m 0 Ma 5 United States Patent 3,221,918 SNAP-0N CAN SEALER Louis G. Callegari, 34-06 45th St., Long Island City, N.Y. Filed Dec. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 334,199 4 Claims. (Cl. 22024) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in closures or plugs for can openings and is and improvement over the disclosure in my copending application for letters patent filed August 12, 1963, Serial Number 301,375.

There has recently become commercially available a type of can for containing a beverage in which the top of the scan has a tab opener. When the tab is removed an elongated opening is formed in the top of the can. The present invention is directed at providing a removable plug or closure which can be used to reseal such an opening in the end of the can.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a removable plug or seal for an opening in the end of a can that is readily applied and removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plug of this type with prongs that assume a fastening position upon insertion of the plug into the opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plug of this type with a handle for readily manipulating the same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plug of this type that is adapted to be repeatedly used, that is simple and rugged in construction and that is economical to manufacture.

The present invention also contemplates a kit including a tool for forming an opening in a can and several plugs for sealing the opening formed by the tool.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a closure plug embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a bottom perspective view thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a can with an opening in the top thereof formed by a tool shown in operative position on the can after forming the opening therein.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the can of FIG. 2 with an improved plug of FIG. 1 shown in operative sealing position in the opening formed therein.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the can of FIG. 3 and looking upwardly toward the top of the can.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on the plane of the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the plug partly removed.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a kit including the improved plug of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of a plug embodying a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional vieW showing the plug of FIG. 9 in operative sealing position in the opening of a can.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the plug of FIG. 9..

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a plug embodying one form of the "ice invention is shown and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The plug 10 comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped plate-like body 12 in plan, approximately 1 /2 inches in length, of an inch wide and A; of an inch thick, but may be of any desired dimensions. The body may be made of any suitable rigid plastic material.

An integral extension is formed on the body extending centrally and perpendicularly to one surface thereof, the extension constituting a handle 14. The side surfaces of the handle taper inwardly as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6 and said surfaces are formed 'with opposed grooves 16, 16 extending approximately the length of the handle.

A resilient sponge rubber pad 18 commensurate in size and shape to the body 12 is fastened to the fiat surface of the body preferably by adhesive 20. The pad is approximately of an inch thick but may be of any desired thickness.

In accordance with the invention, a substantially flexible flat metal U-shaped fastening device 22 is anchored to the body 12, the anchorage including a semicylindrical lug 24, with its ends embedded in the body 12, midway the ends of said body, underneath the handle 14. The lug 24 clamps the bight portion 26 of the device 22 against the body 12. The legs of the device 22 extend through the pad 18 and protrude outwardly thereof forming flexible prongs 28, 28. The extreme ends 30, 30 of the prongs are bent inwardly toward each other providing shoulders 32, 32.

In use, the improved plug 10 is adapted to seal an opening formed in the top end wall of a cylindrical can, such as the opening 34 shown cut out of the material of the top end wall 33 of the cylindrical can 36 in FIG. 2, the material of the top wall being pressed inwardly and downwardly into the body of the can forming a tongue 35 positioned closely adjacent the inner surface of the can body. The opening 34 is triangular in shape with its apex located at the middle of the can top wall. The plug is grasped by the handle 14 and the prongs are inserted through the wide end of the opening 34 adjacent the rim 37 of the can body and then the body of the plug is moved longitudinally along the opening toward the apex end thereof, the prongs during this operation engaging the edge walls of the opening and as the opening becomes narrower gradually toward the apex end, the edge walls of the opening during this operation force the prongs toward each other so that the shoulders 32 thereof seat under and interlock with the edge walls as seen in FIG. 5 holding the plug in operative sealing position as shown in FIG. 3 and preventing radial outward withdrawal of the plug.

The opening 34 in the top end Wall of can 36 was formed by a tool 40 shown in FIG. 2. The tool 40 comprises an elongated flat handle 42 of substantially rectangular configuration. An elongated notch 44 is formed in the handle adjacent its free end, said notch increasing in depth forwardly and being rounded at its forward end. A pointed projection 46 is provided at the forward outer end of the notch, said projection being adapted to book under the lower edge of a crown cap or like closure for removing same from beverage containers or the like. The end of the handle opposite the free end is slightly bent and tapered inwardly to a sharp pointed slightly hooked apex 48, providing an elongated blade 50, said blade being widest where it joins the handle, the tapering edges being sharpened for cutting. A seam engaging hook 52 in punched out of the material of the handle adjacent the base of the blade.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a modified form of plug 10 is shown. Plug 10' differs from plug 10 of FIG. 1 in that a pair of closely spaced fastening devices 22 are provided instead of a single device. The bight portion 26' of one device 22 is shorter than the bight portion of the other device so that the protruding prongs 28 of the device with the shorter bight are offset from the prongs of the other device 22' or disposed inwardly thereof as shown in FIG. 9, so that when the plug is moved longitudinally the devices 22' accommodate themselves to the narrowing opening 34, and the shoulders 32 of both devices interlock with the edge walls of the opening 34'.

In all other respects, the plug is similar to the plug 10 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

According to the invention, it is contemplated to market either the plug 10 or the plug 11) and the tool 40 in a kit, such as the kit 56 shown in FIG. 8. This kit comprises a shallow box body 58 containing a pair of plugs 10 and a tool 40, which can be fastened to the floor 60 of the box body in any suitable manner against displacement. The box body is closed at its open top by a transparent cellophane sheet cover 62.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modification many he made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A plug for sealing an opening in the top end wall of a can, said plug comprising a rigid plastic plate-like body, a resilient pad secured to the surface of the body, and a fastening device anchored to the body and having prongs extending through the pad outwardly thereof, said prongs having the ends thereof bent inwardly toward each other, the bends in the prongs providing shoulders for interlocking with the edge walls of the opening in the top end wall of the can to hold the plug in operative sealing position in the opening.

2. A plug for sealing an opening in the top end wall of a can, said plug comprising a rigid plastic plate-like body, a resilient'pad secured to the surface of the body, and a fastening device anchored to the body and having prongs extending through the pad outwardly thereof, said prongs having the ends thereof bent inwardly toward each other, the bends in the prongs providing shoulders for interlocking with the edge Walls of the opening in the top end wall of the can to hold the plug in operative sealing position in the opening, and an integral handle extending upwardly from the center of the body.

3. A plug for sealing an opening in the top end wall of a can, said plug comprising a rigid plastic plate-like body, a resilient pad secured to the surface of the body, and a pair of closely spaced fastening devices anchored to the body and each having a pair of prongs extending through the pad outwardly thereof, the prongs of each device having the ends thereof bent inwardly toward each other, the bends in the prongs providing shoulders for interlocking with the edge walls of the opening in the top end wall of the can to hold the plug in operative sealing position in the opening, and an integral handle extending upwardly from the center of the body.

4. A plug for sealing an opening in the top end wall of a can as defined in claim 3, wherein the prongs of one of said devices are spaced closer to each other than the prongs of the other device, so that the prongs are adapted to accommodate themselves to an opening having tapered edge walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,257 5/1934 Addis et a1. 206-4534 2,455,669 12/1948 Gagnier 24213 2,578,381 12/1951 Tinnerman 2481 3,099,363 7/1963 Callegari 220-25 3,182,119 5/1965 Milland 220 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

THE-RON E. CONDON, Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PLUG FOR SEALING AN OPENING IN THE TOP END WALL OF A CAN, SAID PLUG COMPRISING A RIGID PLASTIC PLATE-LIKE BODY, A RESILIENT PAD SECURED TO THE SURFACE OF THE BODY, AND A FASTENING DEVICE ANCHORED TO THE BODY AND HAVING PRONGS EXTENDING THROUGH THE PAD OUTWARDLY THEREOF, SAID PRONGS HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF BENT INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER, THE BENDS IN THE PRONGS PROVIDING SHOULDERS FOR INTERLOCKING WITH THE EDGE WALLS OF THE OPENING IN THE TOP END WALL OF THE CAN TO HOLD THE PLUG IN OPERATIVE SEALING POSITION IN THE OPENING. 